Freshwater policy and plan change work

Freshwater is vital for the health of people and communities and is the lifeblood of our natural environment.

Regional Water and Land Plan changes

The Regional Natural Resources Plan (previously called the Regional Water and Land Plan) is the main 'rule book' for managing people's use of land and water in the Bay of Plenty. It outlines how Regional Council will implement the Regional Policy Statement and meet Resource Management Act requirements to provide for sustainable use of natural resources in the Bay of Plenty.

Any change to the Regional Water and Land Plan or Regional Policy Statement must go through an extensive public consultation process. Three plan changes are currently underway to improve water management in the Bay of Plenty:

National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management

Our lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and the estuaries they flow into are kept healthy for people to enjoy

Water allocation decisions are well informed, sustainable, efficient and based on agreed limits

Te Mana o te Wai (the unique relationship iwi have with freshwater) is recognised and protected

Native plants and animals thrive in healthy freshwater habitats.

It requires us to set objectives, policies and limits for water management at a local level that will result in further changes to the Regional Water and Land Plan. We've identified nine Water Management Areas (WMAs) to give us practical geographic areas for delivering on NPS-FM requirements across the region.